No path to playing time? No matter.
by Pat Cloghessy
Playing time, in and of itself, is not a barometer for fantasy supremacy. Yes, AL/NL-only leaguers stand to benefit from collective at-bats, as they produce counting stats. But we want more. As a result of the seemingly unstoppable rise in IL usage, more and more players each year are getting opportunities to showcase their talents. Those with multiple BABS assets but unclear paths to playing time are potential profit centers.
What follows is a sampling of players with skill profiles who, if they had more clearly defined roles, would cost much more at the draft table.
Without cheating, try and think of a mid-time player with the same BABS assets as Cody Bellinger (PW,SB). Only two players of mid or greater playing time can boast these assets, and the other is Franchy Cordero. The Padres’ outfield is crowded and talented, so Hunter Renfroe (PW), Franmil Reyes (p), Wil Myers (p,s), Manuel Margot (SB,a) and Cordero will compete for at bats. There is swing and miss in his game, but Franchy provides a power/speed combo no other Padre outfielder can match. The (INJ,EX) liabilities show nothing is a given, but at 394 ADP it won’t cost much to find out.
Jay Bruce (P+,a) may have already found his way into extra AB with the Kyle Seager injury. Ryon Healy is expected to be the primary fill-in at 3B, clearing the way for Bruce to see increased AB at DH and 1B. Bruce is not risk-free, but his price tag ameliorates some of the downside.
Remember, BABS counts only 10 full-time triple-threat (power/speed/batting average) players in the pool (AJ Pollock has lost his speed asset since the last assessment). Two mid-timers of note also meet the threshold: Austin Meadows and Chris Owings.
Competing with Meadows (p,s,a) for PT in Tampa are Kevin Kiermaier (189), Tommy Pham (57) and Avisail Garcia (99). The parenthetical numbers represent total days (345) spent on the IL in the last three seasons. Injuries lead to opportunity. If Meadows can continue his (small-sample size) success against LHP (.907 OPS in 65 AB), the outlook for increased AB is positive even without injury attrition.
Owings (p,s,a) arrives in Kansas City primed to be a super-utility player. With the MI spot essentially blocked by Adalberto Mondesi and Whit Merrifield, Owings will likely have to find his way into the lineup elsewhere. Owings fell short of 20 games played at all positions save for OF in 2018. With an ADP of 607, there is no reason to draft and hold. If the playing time materializes and he is able to gain additional positional flexibility, Owings could be of use.
Nick Senzel (p,a) is 3B eligible in most leagues, but has added an outfield glove to his bag in the hopes of speeding up his arrival. The outfield is already crowded, so Senzel is probably an injury or two away from regular at-bats. BABS likes his skills, so if opportunity arises, the assets play. Especially in Great American Ballpark.
If we are throwing (well-aimed) darts, what better area to target than Coors Field? Ron’s boy, Ryan McMahon (p,a) resides there. His current ADP is 463, which, if I’m a gambling man, I’d take those odds. McMahon is blocked by/competing with: Garrett Hampson (S+,a,EX) and his grand total of 40 big league at bats at 2B, Ian Desmond (SB,a) and Daniel Murphy (A+,INJ) at 1B. These are good players, but not insurmountable. Again, it won’t cost much to find out.
Staying in Denver, Raimel Tapia (SB,AV) has been biding his time for three seasons. Tapia is out of options, and the odds on favorite for the 4th OF job. This proximity to Coors Field at-bats should have everyone excited. Alas, drafters are ignoring Tapia (ADP 527), which is good news for us. Late speed and thin air to boot? Late round fliers don’t get much better.
He was covered here, but to recap Matt Adams’ (PW,a) prospects as a potential PT gainer:
Matt Adams (PW,a) returns to D.C. after ending last season with the Cardinals. If he can find his way to 300 AB (as he has each of the last three years), Adams is an end game bet for 20 HR. With just Ryan Zimmerman’s INJ liability in in front of him, that HR total could tick higher.
Scroll down the BABS spreadsheet and one can find zero-timers like spring star Rowdy Tellez (p,a), Twins catcher Willians Astudillo (AV), former top prospect Dustin Fowler (SB), uber-prospects Fernando Tatis (p,s) and Bo Bichette (p,s,AV). Starting pitchers Forrest Whitley (e,k), Julio Urias (e,k) and Touki Toussaint (e,k) are also represented. Each have their own obstacles to playing time, but if roster space permits, the old mantra “draft skills, not roles” could be used to justify the selection of any one of these players. Once more, for those in the back: it won’t cost much to find out.